Automatic auxiliary gravity-lock for switch-stand interlocking mechanism.



N F. C. ANDERSON. AUTOMATIC AUXILIARY GRAVITY LOOK FOR SWITCH STAND INTBRLOCKING MECHANISM.

7 APPLICATION FILED FBB.9,1912.

1 4 48 Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMATIC AUXILIARY GRAVITY-LOCK FOR SWITCH-STAND INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application filed February 9, 1912. Serial No. 676,502.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Auxiliary Gravity-Locks for Switch-Stand Interlocking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gravity means for securing the interlocking mechanism of an interlocking switch stand.

The object of my invention is to provide simple, positive and efiicient automatic means to control and hold the interlocking mechanism of a switch stand in locked position, when the switch is knocked down,

damaged or destroyed under traffic, the proper position of the means to control the interlocking mechanism being maintained by gravity, and means for releasing same to operate said "interlocking mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide sucha device which can be easily applied for automatically securing in locked osition the interlocking mechanism of an interlocking switch stand having an interlocking plunger by means of a dog, whose position is maintained by gravity, and adapted to lock said interlocking plunger by resting in the operating path thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic auxiliary gravity lockfor switch stand interlocking mechanism consisting of a gravity actuated dog adapted to normally rest in the path of an interlocking plunger and provided with a stem having a weakened portion whereby said stem is adapted to break at said weakened portion for the purpose of permitting the operating means of said gravity lock to be knocked down under traflic without moving said dog from the path of the interlocking plunger.

My invention consists in providing automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism comprising a dog adapted to normally rest in the path of an interlocking plunger of said interlocking mechanism for the purpose of holding said plunger in engagement with an interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch when the switch is in closed position whereby said point rails are held in locked position, means whereby the position of said dog is maintained by gravity, and means whereby said dog may be operated to permit the plunger to be disengaged from said interlocking bar to open the switch.

My invention consists more specifically in an automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism provided with a plunger adapted to engage and lock an interlocking bar secured to the point rails of a switch, comprising a dog adapted to rest by gravity in the operating path of said plunger and prevent the operation of said interlocking plunger, said dog having a recess therein, a spring adapted to assistgravity in holding the dog in its lowermost position, thereby preventing the plunger from moving, a housing mounted on a plate above said interlocking mechanism and surrounding the stem of said dog,'a weak point in the stem of said dog immediately above said plate, a lifting member fastened to said dog, and a foot bearing trip lever pivotally mounted on the base or extension flange of said upper housing and adapted to lift said lifting arm and thereby lift said dog to allow said plunger to be operated.

My invention also consists in the peculiar construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as herein set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which serves to illustrate the construction, appli cation and use of my invention: Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing a portion of a switch stand and interlocking mechanism therefor controlled by my invention; Fig. 2

is a plan view of same, part of the switch er. g Constructed as illustrated in the drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 represents a portion of a switch stand with the usual vertical operating shaft 2 having interlocking crank 3 shaft segmental gear 6, plunger rack 7,

come and plunger 8 mounted in a suitable housing 9 which is secured to a steel cover plate 10 mounted upon the ties 11. The plunger 8 is adapted to enter an opening 12 in the interlocking bar 13 to hold the switch in locked position. The interlocking plunger is mounted in the housing and is slidably supported in bearings 14, 15 and16.

The mechanisms just described form the subject matter of separate applications and are not claimed herein.

My automatic lock which is used in connection with the interlocking mechanism is partly mounted in a housing 17 The hous-.

ing 17 is mounted on the plate 10 and is" provided with an extension flange 19 at the end of which is provided two upwardly extending lugs 20. The dog 18 of the lock is provided with an engaging side 21 which is provided with a recess 22 in the bottomv thereof. The dog 18 extends upwardly through a suitable opening in the plate 10 and just above said plate it is provided with a shoulder 23 fromflwhich a stem 24 extends upwardly. 1 preferably form a groove 25 in the stem 24 just above the shoulder 23 so that should the portion of my automatic auxiliary gravity lock above said plate'bedamaged or destroyed under traflic said stem will break at the reduced or weak ened portion and leave the lower portion-of the dog undisturbed and in the operating path of the interlocking plunger, thereby eliminating the liability, of the lower engaging portion 21 of the dog from being moved from the" operating path of the interlocking plunger 8. The stem 24 of the'dog extends up through the top of the housing 17 where it is provided with another shoulder 26 upon which rests the angular lifting arm 27. The stem 24 is screw threaded at the upper end and a nut 28 is provided to fasten said lifting arm to said dog.- A flanged washer 29 is mounted on the stem of the dog 18 and is adapted to rest upon the shoulder 23 thereof. Bearing against the top of said washer 29 I provide a compression spring 30 which bears against anotherwasher 31 at the other end and which is adapted to bear against the inner wall of the top of the housing 17 as best shown in Fig. 3. It is the purpose of this spring to assist gravity in causing [the dog to operate more quickly in keeping said dog in its lowermost position and thereby prevent the intel-locking plunger from being operated.

A foot bearing trip lever 32 is suitably pivoted to the lugs 20 and is adapted to engage the.lifting arm 27 to lift the dog 18 when the foot bearing trip lever is operated. It is readily seen that the lifting member 27 raises the dog far enough to allow the inthrough the recess 22 in the bottom of said dog thereby allowing the interlocking mechamsm to beoperate It is obvious from the construction shown and described that should the interlocking mechanism mounted-on the plate be severed the lower engaging portion '21 of the dog would still remain intact and prevent said interlocking plunger from being operated,

- for the reason that the same would be -suspended or held in proper position by the head block as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: Whenthe interlocking switch stand is to be operated the operator must first place his foot upon the foot bearing trip lever there by raising the dog 18 out of the operating path of the interlocking plunger 8. Then the switch stand can be operated thereby op eratingthe interlocking. mechanism which will operate the. interlocking plunger and, allow the interlocking bar and the point rails to be moved.

It is readily'seen t-hat I provide special safety means for switch stand interlocking mechanism of the character described whereby practically all mechanism above the plate which covers the interlocking mechanism can be destroyed under traflic and still pre- ,terlocking plunger 8 to pass under said dog vent the interlocking mechanism from ing operated. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure w -by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic auxiliary gravitylock for switch stand interlocking mechanism provided with an interlocking plunger adapted to engage an opening in an interlocking bar connected to'the point rails of a switch, a gravity dog mounted in said interlocking mechanism 1n the path of said interlocking plunger to prevent the movement of said interlocking plunger when the switch is in closed position, and means whereby said dog can be operated to release said interlock ing plunger to permit the switch to be thrown to open position.

\2. In an automatic auxlliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism,-

an interlocking plunger constituting part of said interlocking mechanism, a dog adapted to rest by gravity in the path of said interlocking plunger, said dog having a recess in its lower end adapted to register with the interlocking plunger when the dog is raised to its highest position, said dog having a oot said dog, a spring mounted on said stem, an upper housing for said stem, and a lifting arm mounted on said stem, a foot bearing trip lever adapted to engage and operate s'aid lifting arm for the purpose of raising said dog to permit the operation of said interlocking plunger.

4:. In an automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism having an interlocking plunger adapted to engage an interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch a gravity dog mounted in the path of sai interlocking plunger when said switch is in closed position to prevent the interlocking plunger from releasing the interlocking bar, a spring mounted on the stem of said dog to assist gravity in actuating said dog, and means whereby said dog may be moved from'the path of said interlocking plunger to permit the switch to be thrown to open position.

5. In an automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism, a dog ,adapted to be actuated by gravity and provlded with a stem, a spring mounted on said stem, a housing for said stem, a lifting arm mounted on the end of said stem above said housing, said lifting arm being provided with a pocket or recess in its lower end adapted to receive the end of a foot trip lever, and a cap screw on said foot trip lever adapted to adjust the movement of said dog for registering with the interlocking plunger of an interlocking mechanism.

'6. In an automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism, a dog adapted to be actuated by gravity, a

stem for said dog, a housing for said stem, a lifting arm mounted on the end of said stem above said housing, an extension on said housing provided with upwardly extending lugs, a foot bearin trip lever pivotally mounted between sai lugs and adapted to engage a recess or pocket in said arm whereby said dog may be raised to permit the interlocking plunger to register with the recess in the lower end of the dog, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7 In an automatic auxiliary gravity lock for switch stand interlocking mechanism having an interlocking plunger adapted to engage an interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch, a gravity dog mounted in the path of said interlockingplunger, a stem for said dog, a housin for said stem, a lifting arm mounted on t e end of said stem above said housing, an extension flange on said housing provided with upwardly extending lugs, a foot bearing trip lever pivotally mounted between said lugs and adapted to engage a recess or pocket in said arm whereby said dogmay be raised to permit the interlocking plunger to register with the recess in the lower end of said dog and having a reduced area of metal or weak point in the stem of said dog whereby the means for operatingsaid dog may be destroyed without removing said dog from the path of said interlocking plunger.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, Gomm GORDON. 

